Fundraising, data analytics among concerns of Catholic Media

Photo courtesy of Novaliches Soccom Ministry

DAVAO CITY, August 7, 2018 – Chris Herron of the Archdiocese of Sidney shared his expertise on fundraising to sustain charitable works.

Fundraising involves three processes: first, telling the story of what you do and how it makes a difference in people’s lives; asking for support; and thanking the people.

"Fundraising is not a response to a crisis but a ministry, a way of announcing our vision.  It’s all about mission, we follow in the footsteps of Christ, it’s an experience of evangelization," explained Mr. Herron.

Data analytics

Meanwhile, Sally Bellosillo, reknowned producer and director tackled Data Analytics as a way of understanding the target audience.

She gave an introduction on Big Data, an automated system of collecting the profile of every individual by which the products are tailor-made according to the particular taste.  These are used by popular companies such as Netflix, Facebook, and even politicians.  She expressed concern on how we use social media.

"Develop critical thinking; why are we giving this information?" challenged Sally.

Meanwhile, the ECSC shall embark on a digital media assessment to assist dioceses on how they can best and effectively engage their audiences.

Affirmative journalism

Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Sec. Jesus Duresa’s message was read by OPAPP Communication head Sonny Mendoza.

He underscored the need to use the moral compass as a condition for affirmative journalism.

"How would this post have an impact on the work that I do?  What good will they do me?  Will it provide enlightenment and unite the people?" challenged Sec. Dureza.

"Vanguards of truth and justice go beyond media releases and press conferences.  Words yield too much power.  Truth and accuracy must never be sacrificed."

The delegates were divided into five groups and given quick orientation on their projects covering 5 topics: 911, Public Safety and Security, Archdiocesan Nourishment Center, Muslim Community, Cultural Village, and Sagop Kinabuhi Program II.

At 6 p.m., the Holy Eucharist was presided by Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Pena, MSP, DD who shared updates on the rehabilitation of Marawi.

Afterwards, the delegates were treated to a sumptuous dinner and cultural presentation before retiring for the night. /J. Jopson, CBCP ECSC

Catholic Communicators, men and women of prayer - B. Mylo

Photo courtesy of Randy Alvez, Pasig Soccom Ministry

DAVAO CITY, AUGUST 7, 2018 -  Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara led the participants in the Holy Hour of the 2nd day of the 4th National Catholic Media Convention held here in Mergrande Ocean Beach Resort.

Bishop Mylo focused on the 52nd World Communication Day message as a way of conversion, taking off from Archbishop Valles’ homily yesterday.

“Fake news, distorted and sensationalized, have far-reaching effect locally and globally… Gossips destroy the persons, communities, and nations.”

What is the difference between secular and Catholic media?  We are men and women of prayer… If we want to combat fake news and be journalists of peace, as men and women of prayer, being exposed to Jesus, we clearly realize the font and source of what we proclaim, Jesus who is our truth, no one else but the prince of peace.”

Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, in his keynote address, reminded the Catholic media practitioners on the truth and reality of their mission which is the grace of their office: the proclamation of the kingdom.

Speaking from personal experience of opening for the fourth time their local Catholic radio station, the Archbishop said, “I was fearful and hesitant at first; but now, I can say with grace, it is the work of God that we are surviving in the social communication ministry in the Archdiocese of Davao.  God is guiding us and helping as we keep the core truth of the soccom ministry which is not money but the proclamation of the gospel.

He also brought out wish lists for the social communication ministry.  These are:

First, a soccom ministry that develops and promotes among the people the capacity to discern or promotes discernment, starting with oneself;

Second, a socomm ministry that gives prime attention to the communicators themselves, with the hearts and minds to be close to the One who said, “I am the truth”;

Third, a soccom ministry that develops the language of news into the language of mercy and compassion;

And fourth, a soccom ministry that develops the language of a Christian into joy and humor.

Meanwhile, Fr. Jboy Gonzales, SJ gave a powerful inputs on fake news and how to understand media manipulations, where they operate, what motivates them, what they use, why we are vulnerable to them, and how to address fake news.

He recommended the following:

First, cling to the truth.  God is truth;

Second, be an army of God using the language of dialogue, goodness and responsibility;

Third, encounter people at the peripheries;

Fourth, fulfill the mission of reconciliation;

Fifth, enflesh the truth by living it out;

Sixth, know the importance of credibility and integrity in media;

Seventh, use creativity and intellectual engagement;

Eight, evaluate religious life and technology;

And ninth, engage actively and conscientiously. /J. Jopson, CBCP ECSC

4th Catholic Media Convention opens in Davao City

photo courtesy of the Diocese of Novaliches Soccom Ministry

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 6, 2018 - The opening of the 4th National Catholic Media Convention of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communications coincided with the 21st Episcopal ordination anniversary of Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles as he celebrated the Holy Eucharist at the San Pedro Cathedral of last August 6, 2018, with Auxiliary Bishop George Rimando and ECSC Chairman and Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara concelebrating.

There were 45 priests, 7 religious sisters and 85 lay for a total of 137 delegates to this year’s National Catholic Media Convention.

The Archbishop focused on three qualities which could be imbibed in the heart of every Catholic Media practitioner.  These are:

First, joy and delight.  “To be a media person that would convey to the community a message that is filled with joy and delight is so wonderful,” the archbishop observed.

Second, the ability to articulate and portray the truth in situations of good and evil.

Archbishop Valles said, “The capacity to detect the mysterious presence of evil and good and the hand of God in the situation and articulate it in the community takes great talent using visuals and words and let the people be there in the experience.”

The third quality is a heart that is filled with confidence and hope.

“In any situation, whether it be a difficult situation or a situation of success that would make us forget there’s a God, we must be mindful of the truth.  Media people serving the church should remind themselves that in the end, everything will be alright and that good and grace will triumph.” /J. Jopson, ECSC

SUMMARY OF POPE FRANCIS’ 52nd WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY MESSAGE

By FR. JOSELITO I. JOPSON, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, CBCP ECSC

Rome – As early as January 24, 2018, the Holy Father Pope Francis released his message for the 52nd World Communications Day scheduled to be celebrated on Ascension Sunday, May 13, 2108.
Dubbed with the theme “The truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32), Fake news and journalism for peace”, the Holy Father gives us ample time to reflect on what we can do to preserve the integrity of journalism which is slowly being corrupted by fake news.

The Holy Father saw the need to clarify communication as an essential way of experiencing fellowship.  Unfortunately, because of pride and selfishness, we distort our ability to communicate.

This results in fake news.

First, what is fake news?
According to the Holy Father, “Spreading fake news can serve to advance specific goals, influence political decisions and serve economic interests” under the guise of real news.
It is also difficult to eliminate it because people interact to it in differing perspectives and opinions; there’s an absence of healthy confrontation with sources and challenges prejudice and constructive dialogue.  It turns people into unwilling accomplices in spreading biased and baseless ideas.
To recognize it is no easy task.  There has to be educational programmes to help people interpret and assess information.  But we need to discern the authenticity of the news.

How to discern fake news
First, we have to unmask the snake tactics of the crafty serpent of the Book of Genesis (cf. Gen: 3: 1 – 15).  “The strategy of this skilled "Father of Lies" (Jn 8:44) is precisely mimicry, that sly and dangerous form of seduction that worms its way into the heart with false and alluring arguments,” exposed the Holy Father.

Second, we have to uncover the false concern of the tempter pretending to be a friend with good intentions, and the guise of truth for its appearance.
Third, we need to release the real intention of the fake news: greed.

Counteracting fake news
Noting Dotovsky’s observation: “People who lie to themselves and listen to their own lie come to such a pass that they cannot distinguish the truth within them, or around them, and so lose all respect for themselves and others” (The Brothers Karamazov, II, 2), our solution then is to adhere to the truth.  Truth is something we can lean on, so as not to fall.

Second, if words are to be true, authentic and trustworthy, we need to discern everything that encourages communion and promotes goodness from whatever instead tends to isolate, divide, and oppose.

Third, peace is the true news.

 “The best antidotes to falsehoods are not strategies, but people: people who are not greedy but ready to listen, people who make the effort to engage in sincere dialogue so that the truth can emerge; people who are attracted by goodness and take responsibility for how they use language,” explained the Holy Father.

Responsibility rests on the journalists, the protectors of news.  These know that the heart of the information is not speed but persons.

Journalism for peace
The Holy Father encourages promoting the journalism of peace which Pope Paul VI also promoted as early as 1972 as a way to rediscover the dignity of journalism and the solemn responsibility of journalists to communicate the truth.

It is journalism that is truthful, created by people for people, and one at the service of all – especially for those who have no voice, “a journalism less concentrated on breaking news than on exploring the underlying causes of conflicts, in order to promote deeper understanding and contribute to their resolution by setting in place virtuous processes; a journalism committed to pointing out alternatives to the escalation of shouting matches and verbal violence.”

From the prayer of St. Francis, the Holy Father turns to the Truth in person: to be instruments of peace in a kind of communication that does not build communion; to remove the venom from our judgment; to speak about others as brothers and sisters; to be seeds of goodness for the world; to
listen, inspire harmony, bring clarity, solidarity, sobriety, to raise real questions, to awaken trust, and bring respect and truth.

CBCP statement on the recent development: Sr. Patricia Fox is ordered to leave the country

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE THIRTY-THIRD WORLD YOUTH DAY 2018

MANILA - The Secretariat of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines forwarded the communication of Rev. João Chagas, Head of Youth Office of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life and His Holiness Pope Francis’ Message for the 33rd World Youth Day with the theme: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God” (Lk 1:30).  The document is available in various languages on the Vatican website at http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/youth/index.html.

According to Rev. Chagas, the 33rd World Youth day will be held in the diocesan level on Palm Sunday.  He called to make the Message known in the dioceses, parishes and youth groups in every country or movement, association or community so that it can be part of the spiritual preparation of young people for WYD.

 Executive secretary of the CBCP Commission on Youth Fr. Conegundo Garganta underscored the importance of this event.  He said, "Through this, we hope that awareness about the World Youth Day 2018, scheduled for Palm Sunday and to be observed by the local churches, will be heightened.  Especially for our own 2018 Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, the WYD2018 message of the Holy Father is very meaningful."

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS

FOR THE THIRTY-THIRD WORLD YOUTH DAY 

2018

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God” (Lk 1:30)

Dear young people,

World Youth Day 2018 represents another step in preparation for the international WYD due to take place in Panama in January 2019.  This new stage of our pilgrimage falls in the same year that the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will meet on the theme: Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment.  This is a happy coincidence.  The focus, prayer and reflection of the Church will turn to you young people, with the desire to receive and, above all, to embrace the precious gift that you are to God, to the Church and to the world.

As you already know, we have chosen to be accompanied on this journey by the example and intercession of Mary, the young woman of Nazareth whom God chose as the Mother of his Son.  She walks with us towards the Synod and towards the WYD in Panama.  If last year we were guided by the words of her canticle of praise – “The Almighty has done great things for me” (Lk 1:49) – teaching us to remember the past, this year we seek, together with her, to listen to the voice of God who inspires courage and bestows the grace needed to respond to his call: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God” (Lk1:30).  These are the words addressed by God’s messenger, the Archangel Gabriel, to Mary, an ordinary girl from a small village in Galilee.

1. Do not be afraid!

As is understandable, the sudden appearance of the angel and his mysterious greeting: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Lk 1:28), strongly disturbed Mary, who was surprised by this first revelation of her identity and her vocation, as yet unknown to her.  Mary, like others in the Sacred Scriptures, trembles before the mystery of God’s call, who in a moment places before her the immensity of his own plan and makes her feel all her smallness as a humble creature.  The angel, seeing the depths of her heart, says: “Do not be afraid”!  God also reads our inmost heart.  He knows well the challenges we must confront in life, especially when we are faced with the fundamental choices on which depend who we will be and what we will do in this world.  It is the “shudder” that we feel when faced with decisions about our future, our state of life, our vocation.  In these moments we are troubled and seized by so many fears.

And you young people, what are your fears?  What worries you most deeply?  An “underlying” fear that many of you have is that of not being loved, well-liked or accepted for who you are.  Today, there are many young people who feel the need to be different from who they really are, in an attempt to adapt to an often artificial and unattainable standard.  They continuously “photo-shop” their images, hiding behind masks and false identities, almost becoming fake selves.  Many are obsessed by receiving as many “likes” as possible.  Multiple fears and uncertainties emerge from this sense of inadequacy.  Others fear that they will not be able to find an emotional security and that they will remain alone.  Many, faced with the uncertainty of work, fear not being able to find a satisfactory professional position, or to fulfil their dreams.  Today a large number of young people are full of fear, both believers and non-believers.  Indeed, those who have accepted the gift of faith and seek their vocation seriously are not exempt from fears.  Some think: perhaps God is asking or will ask too much of me; perhaps, by following the road he has marked out for me, I will not be truly happy, or I will not be able to do what he asks of me.  Others think: if I follow the path that God shows me, who can guarantee that I will be able to follow it through?  Will I become discouraged? Will I lose my enthusiasm? Will I be able to persevere for the whole of my life?

In moments when doubts and fears flood our hearts, discernment becomes necessary.  It allows us to bring order to the confusion of our thoughts and feelings, to act in a just and prudent way.  In this process, the first step in overcoming fears is to identify them clearly, so as not to find yourself wasting time and energy by being gripped by empty and faceless ghosts.  And so, I invite all of you to look within yourselves and to “name” your fears.  Ask yourselves: what upsets me, what do I fear most in this specific moment of my life today?  What blocks me and prevents me from moving forward?  Why do I lack the courage to make the important choices I need to make?  Do not be afraid to face your fears honestly, to recognize them for what they are and to come to terms with them.  The Bible does not ignore the human experience of fear nor its many causes.  Abraham was afraid (cf. Gen 12:10ff), Jacob was afraid (cf. Gen 31:31; 32:7), and so were Moses (cf. Ex 2:14; 17:4), Peter (cf. Mt 26:69ff) and the Apostles (cf. Mk 4:38-40; Mt 26:56).  Jesus himself, albeit in an incomparable way, experienced fear and anguish (cf. Mt 26:37; Lk 22:44).

“Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” (Mk 4:40).  In admonishing his disciples Jesus helps us to understand how the obstacle to faith is often not scepticism but fear.  Thus understood, the work of discernment identifies our fears and can then help us to overcome them, opening us to life and helping us to calmly face the challenges that come our way.  For us Christians in particular, fear must never have the last word but rather should be an occasion to make an act of faith in God… and in life!  This means believing in the fundamental goodness of the existence that God has given us and trusting that he will lead us to a good end, even through circumstances and vicissitudes which often bewilder us.  Yet if we harbour fears, we will become inward-looking and closed off to defend ourselves from everything and everyone, and we will remain paralyzed.  We have to act!  Never close yourself in!  In the Sacred Scriptures the expression “do not be afraid” is repeated 365 times with different variations, as if to tell us that the Lord wants us to be free from fear, every day of the year.

Discernment is indispensable when searching for one’s vocation in life.  More often than not our vocation is not obvious or evident at first but rather something we come to understand gradually. 
Discernment, in this case, should not be seen as an individual effort at introspection, with the aim of better understanding our interior make-up so as to strengthen us and acquire some balance.  In such instances the person can become stronger, but is still confined to the limited horizon of his or her possibilities and perspectives.  Vocation, however, is a call from above, and discernment in this context principally means opening ourselves to the Other who calls.  Prayerful silence is therefore required in order to hear the voice of God that resounds within our conscience.  God knocks at the door of our hearts, as he did with Mary; he longs to establish friendship with us through prayer, to speak with us through the Sacred Scriptures, to offer us mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and to be one with us in the Eucharist.

It is also important to dialogue with and encounter others, our brothers and sisters in the faith who have more experience, for they help us to see better and to choose wisely from the various possibilities.  When the young Samuel hears the voice of the Lord, he does not recognize it immediately. Three times he runs to Eli, the older priest, who in the end proposes the right response to give to the Lord’s call: “If he calls you, you shall say: ‘Speak Lord, for your servant hears.’” (1 Sam 3:9).  In your doubts know that you can rely on the Church.  I know that there are very good priests, consecrated men and woman and lay faithful, many of whom are also young, who can support you like older brothers and sisters in the faith.  Enlivened by the Holy Spirit, they will help you to make sense of your doubts and understand the plan of your own vocation.  The other is not only a spiritual guide, but also the person who helps us open ourselves to the infinite riches of the life that God has given us.  It is important to create spaces in our cities and communities to grow, to dream and to look at new horizons!  Never lose the enthusiasm of enjoying others’ company and friendship, as well as the pleasure of dreaming together, of walking together.  Authentic Christians are not afraid to open themselves to others and share with them their own important spaces, making them spaces of fraternity.  Dear young people, do not allow the spark of youth to be extinguished in the darkness of a closed room in which the only window to the outside world is a computer and smartphone.  Open wide the doors of your life!  May your time and space be filled with meaningful relationships, real people, with whom to share your authentic and concrete experiences of daily life.

2.  Mary!

“I have called you by name” (Is 43:1).  The first reason not to fear is the fact that God has called us by name.  The angel, God’s messenger, called Mary by name.  To God belongs the power to give names.  In the work of creation, he calls into existence every creature by name. There is an identity behind a name, that which is unique in every single thing, in every single person; that intimate essence that only God truly knows.  This divine prerogative was shared with man when God invited him to name the animals, the birds and also his own offspring (Gen 2:19-21; 4:1).  Many cultures share this profound biblical vision; they recognize in a name the revelation of the profound mystery of life and the meaning of existence.

When God calls someone by name, he also reveals to the person his vocation, his plan of holiness and fulfilment, through which the person becomes a gift to others and is made unique.  And when God wants to expand the horizons of life, he gives a new name to the person he is calling, as he did with Simon, whom he called “Peter”.  From here comes the custom of taking a new name when entering a religious congregation, to indicate a new identity and mission.  Since the divine call is unique and personal, we need the courage to disentangle ourselves from the pressure of being shaped by conforming patterns, so that our life can truly become an authentic and irreplaceable gift to God, to the Church and to all.

Dear young people, to be called by name is therefore a sign of our great dignity in the eyes of God and a sign of his love for us.  God calls each one of you by name.  All of you are the “you” of God, precious in his eyes, worthy of respect and loved (cf. Is 43:4).  Welcome with joy this dialogue that God offers you, this appeal he makes to you, calling you by name.

3. You have found favour with God

The main reason why Mary need not be afraid is that she has found favour with God.  The word “grace” speaks of love freely given, not owed.  How much we are encouraged to know that we do not have to earn the closeness and help of God, by presenting a “Curriculum Vitae of excellence”, full of merits and successes!  The angel says to Mary that she has already found favour with God, not that she will obtain it in the future.  And the same formulation of the angel’s words helps us understand that divine grace is continuous, not something passing or fleeting; for this reason, it will never fail.  Even in the future, the grace of God will always be there to sustain us, especially in moments of trial and darkness.

The continuous presence of divine grace encourages us to embrace our vocation with confidence; our vocation demands a commitment of faithfulness that needs to be renewed each day.  Our vocational path is not without its crosses: not only our initial doubts, but also the frequent temptations that crop up along the way.  The feeling of inadequacy accompanies Christ’s disciple to the end.  Yet he or she knows the help of God’s grace.

The Angel’s words descend upon our human fears, dissolving them with the power of the Good News of which we are heralds: our life is not pure chance or a mere struggle for survival, rather each of us is a cherished story loved by God.  That we have “found grace in his eyes” means that the Creator sees a unique beauty in our being and that he has a magnificent plan for our lives.  The awareness of this certainty, of course, does not resolve all our problems nor does it take away life’s uncertainties.  But it does have the power to transform our life deeply.  The unknown that tomorrow holds for us is not a dark threat we need to overcome, but a favourable time given to us for living out the uniqueness of our personal vocation, and for sharing it with our brothers and sisters in the Church and in the world.

4. Courage in the present moment

From the certainty that God’s grace is with us comes the strength to take courage in the present moment: the courage to carry forward what God asks of us here and now, in every area of our lives; courage to embrace the vocation which God reveals to us; courage to live out our faith without hiding or diminishing it.

Yes, when we open ourselves to God’s grace, the impossible becomes a reality.  “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31).  God’s grace touches the “now” of your lives, “takes hold” of you as you are, with all your fears and limits, but it also reveals his marvellous plans!  You young people need to know that someone truly believes in you: please know that the Pope has confidence in you, that the Church has confidence in you!  For your part, have confidence in the Church! 
To the young Mary was entrusted an important task, precisely because she was young.  You young people have strength as you go through a phase of your lives where energy is not lacking.  Make use of this strength and this energy to improve the world, beginning with the realities closest to you.  I want important responsibilities to be given to you within the Church; that there may be the courage to make space for you; and that you may be prepared to take on these responsibilities.
I invite you once again to contemplate Mary’s love: a caring, dynamic and concrete love.  A love full of boldness and focused completely on the gift of self.  A Church permeated by these Marian qualities will always be a Church going forth, one that goes beyond her own limits and boundaries to let the grace she has received overflow.  If we allow ourselves to be truly touched by Mary’s example, we will live out authentically that charity which urges us to love God above all else and above ourselves, to love those with whom we share our daily life.  And we will also love those who may seem hardly lovable in themselves.  It is a love that is service and dedication, above all towards the weakest and poorest, love that transforms our faces and fills us with joy.

I would like to end with the beautiful words Saint Bernard used in a famous homily on the mystery of the Annunciation, words that express the anticipation of all humanity for Mary’s response: “You have heard, O Virgin that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit.  The angel awaits an answer… We too, O Lady, are waiting for your word of compassion... In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life… This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet... Answer quickly, O Virgin” (Sermon 4, 8-9; Opera Omnia).

Dear young people, the Lord, the Church, the world are waiting for your answer to the unique call that each one receives in this life!  As World Youth Day in Panama draws closer, I invite you to prepare yourselves for our gathering with the joy and enthusiasm of those who wish to participate in such a great adventure.  WYD is for the courageous!  Not for young people who are searching only for comfort and who withdraw whenever difficulties arise.  Do you accept the challenge?
From the Vatican, 11 February 2018

VI Sunday of Ordinary Time
Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes

FRANCIS

CATHOLIC CHURCH SENDS 26 MILLION PESOS TO HUMANITARIAN RESPONSES FROM LOCAL FUNDS

(Leaders of internally displaced persons from Marawi City and Fr. Rex Paul Arjona (4th from right) pose for a commemorative photo after the press conference held at CBCP this morning.)


 February 21, 2018 - The Catholic Church, through NASSA/Caritas Philippines released a total of 26 million pesos from its local funds under Alay Kapwa, to a number of disasters and emergencies in 2017.

    In a statement released Fr. Edwin A. Gariguez, he said “the amount and the vastness of the contribution our Alay Kapwa solidarity fund has provided are a testament to how fast we can gather our resources and extend assistance to the most in need dioceses!”

   “As a network, we have implemented programs in the most remote communities, highly vulnerable population and in some instances, under the most challenging conditions! The figures provide us a glimpse of our capacity, as the national social action arm of the Catholic Church, to respond readily to the needs of our dioceses. These are also showing how we have developed in terms of competence and efficiency to implement and manage multi-donor responses,” added NASSA/Caritas Philippines’ Executive Secretary.

   In addition to the local funds, NASSA/Caritas Philippines’ over-all humanitarian response portfolio in 2017 totalled to 267 million pesos. These are from the Caritas Internationalis confederation and other funding mechanisms. The amount assisted more than 69 thousand families (348 thousand individuals) affected by disasters and emergencies.

   Fr. Gariguez however underscored that the Catholic Church is only complementing the efforts of the government and other organizations. “We do not wish to be doing the work of the government especially. We fully recognize that our role is only to provide additional assistance. However, we cannot close our eyes to the pressing and severing needs of our people. Where others fail, we do our share.”

   The most recent humanitarian crises the national Caritas is supporting are the on-going Marawi response (22 million pesos), and the Mayon volcano eruption with an initial aid of 5 million pesos.

   NASSA​/Caritas Philippines is the humanitarian, development and advocacy arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. It is serves as secretariat to the 85 diocesan social action centers in the country and represents the Philippines to the global confederation of Catholic charities - Caritas Internationalis.  (J. Henderson, NASSA / CARITAS Philippines)

CBCP appeals for Galilee Center for Priests expansion

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Migrants and refugees: men and women in search of peace

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE
51st WORLD DAY OF PEACE

1 JANUARY 2018

 1. Heartfelt good wishes for peace

Peace to all people and to all nations on earth! Peace, which the angels proclaimed to the shepherds on Christmas night,[1] is a profound aspiration for everyone, for each individual and all peoples, and especially for those who most keenly suffer its absence. Among these whom I constantly keep in my thoughts and prayers, I would once again mention the over 250 million migrants worldwide, of whom 22.5 million are refugees. Pope Benedict XVI, my beloved predecessor, spoke of them as “men and women, children, young and elderly people, who are searching for somewhere to live in peace.”[2] In order to find that peace, they are willing to risk their lives on a journey that is often long and perilous, to endure hardships and suffering, and to encounter fences and walls built to keep them far from their goal.

In a spirit of compassion, let us embrace all those fleeing from war and hunger, or forced by discrimination, persecution, poverty and environmental degradation to leave their homelands.

We know that it is not enough to open our hearts to the suffering of others. Much more remains to be done before our brothers and sisters can once again live peacefully in a safe home. Welcoming others requires concrete commitment, a network of assistance and goodwill, vigilant and sympathetic attention, the responsible management of new and complex situations that at times compound numerous existing problems, to say nothing of resources, which are always limited. By practising the virtue of prudence, government leaders should take practical measures to welcome, promote, protect, integrate and, “within the limits allowed by a correct understanding of the common good, to permit [them] to become part of a new society.”[3] Leaders have a clear responsibility towards their own communities, whose legitimate rights and harmonious development they must ensure, lest they become like the rash builder who miscalculated and failed to complete the tower he had begun to construct.[4]

2. Why so many refugees and migrants?

As he looked to the Great Jubilee marking the passage of two thousand years since the proclamation of peace by the angels in Bethlehem, Saint John Paul II pointed to the increased numbers of displaced persons as one of the consequences of the “endless and horrifying sequence of wars, conflicts, genocides and ethnic cleansings”[5] that had characterized the twentieth century. To this date, the new century has registered no real breakthrough: armed conflicts and other forms of organized violence continue to trigger the movement of peoples within national borders and beyond.

Yet people migrate for other reasons as well, principally because they “desire a better life, and not infrequently try to leave behind the ‘hopelessness’ of an unpromising future.”[6] They set out to join their families or to seek professional or educational opportunities, for those who cannot enjoy these rights do not live in peace. Furthermore, as I noted in the Encyclical Laudato Si’, there has been “a tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty caused by environmental degradation”.[7]

Most people migrate through regular channels. Some, however, take different routes, mainly out of desperation, when their own countries offer neither safety nor opportunity, and every legal pathway appears impractical, blocked or too slow.

Many destination countries have seen the spread of rhetoric decrying the risks posed to national security or the high cost of welcoming new arrivals, and thus demeaning the human dignity due to all as sons and daughters of God. Those who, for what may be political reasons, foment fear of migrants instead of building peace are sowing violence, racial discrimination and xenophobia, which are matters of great concern for all those concerned for the safety of every human being.[8]

All indicators available to the international community suggest that global migration will continue for the future. Some consider this a threat. For my part, I ask you to view it with confidence as an opportunity to build peace.

3. With a contemplative gaze

The wisdom of faith fosters a contemplative gaze that recognizes that all of us “belong to one family, migrants and the local populations that welcome them, and all have the same right to enjoy the goods of the earth, whose destination is universal, as the social doctrine of the Church teaches. It is here that solidarity and sharing are founded.”[9] These words evoke the biblical image of the new Jerusalem. The book of the prophet Isaiah (chapter 60) and that of Revelation (chapter 21) describe the city with its gates always open to people of every nation, who marvel at it and fill it with riches. Peace is the sovereign that guides it and justice the principle that governs coexistence within it.

We must also turn this contemplative gaze to the cities where we live, “a gaze of faith which sees God dwelling in their houses, in their streets and squares, […] fostering solidarity, fraternity, and the desire for goodness, truth and justice”[10] – in other words, fulfilling the promise of peace.

When we turn that gaze to migrants and refugees, we discover that they do not arrive empty-handed. They bring their courage, skills, energy and aspirations, as well as the treasures of their own cultures; and in this way, they enrich the lives of the nations that receive them. We also come to see the creativity, tenacity and spirit of sacrifice of the countless individuals, families and communities around the world who open their doors and hearts to migrants and refugees, even where resources are scarce.

A contemplative gaze should also guide the discernment of those responsible for the public good, and encourage them to pursue policies of welcome, “within the limits allowed by a correct understanding of the common good”[11] – bearing in mind, that is, the needs of all members of the human family and the welfare of each.

Those who see things in this way will be able to recognize the seeds of peace that are already sprouting and nurture their growth. Our cities, often divided and polarized by conflicts regarding the presence of migrants and refugees, will thus turn into workshops of peace.

4. Four mileposts for action

Offering asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and victims of human trafficking an opportunity to find the peace they seek requires a strategy combining four actions: welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating.[12]

“Welcoming” calls for expanding legal pathways for entry and no longer pushing migrants and displaced people towards countries where they face persecution and violence. It also demands balancing our concerns about national security with concern for fundamental human rights. Scripture reminds us: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”[13]

“Protecting” has to do with our duty to recognize and defend the inviolable dignity of those who flee real dangers in search of asylum and security, and to prevent their being exploited. I think in particular of women and children who find themselves in situations that expose them to risks and abuses that can even amount to enslavement. God does not discriminate: “The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the orphan and the widow.”[14]

“Promoting” entails supporting the integral human development of migrants and refugees. Among many possible means of doing so, I would stress the importance of ensuring access to all levels of education for children and young people. This will enable them not only to cultivate and realize their potential, but also better equip them to encounter others and to foster a spirit of dialogue rather than rejection or confrontation. The Bible teaches that God “loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”[15]

“Integrating”, lastly, means allowing refugees and migrants to participate fully in the life of the society that welcomes them, as part of a process of mutual enrichment and fruitful cooperation in service of the integral human development of the local community. Saint Paul expresses it in these words: “You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people.”[16]

5. A proposal for two international compacts

It is my heartfelt hope this spirit will guide the process that in the course of 2018 will lead the United Nations to draft and approve two Global Compacts, one for safe, orderly and regular migration and the other for refugees. As shared agreements at a global level, these compacts will provide a framework for policy proposals and practical measures. For this reason, they need to be inspired by compassion, foresight and courage, so as to take advantage of every opportunity to advance the peace-building process. Only in this way can the realism required of international politics avoid surrendering to cynicism and to the globalization of indifference.

Dialogue and coordination are a necessity and a specific duty for the international community. Beyond national borders, higher numbers of refugees may be welcomed – or better welcomed – also by less wealthy countries, if international cooperation guarantees them the necessary funding.

The Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has published a set of twenty action points that provide concrete leads for implementing these four verbs in public policy and in the attitudes and activities of Christian communities.[17] The aim of this and other contributions is to express the interest of the Catholic Church in the process leading to the adoption of the two U.N. Global Compacts. This interest is the sign of a more general pastoral concern that goes back to the very origins of the Church and has continued in her many works up to the present time.

6. For our common home

Let us draw inspiration from the words of Saint John Paul II: “If the ‘dream’ of a peaceful world is shared by all, if the refugees’ and migrants’ contribution is properly evaluated, then humanity can become more and more a universal family and our earth a true ‘common home’.”[18] Throughout history, many have believed in this “dream”, and their achievements are a testament to the fact that it is no mere utopia.

Among these, we remember Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini in this year that marks the hundredth anniversary of her death. On this thirteenth day of November, many ecclesial communities celebrate her memory. This remarkable woman, who devoted her life to the service of migrants and became their patron saint, taught us to welcome, protect, promote and integrate our brothers and sisters. Through her intercession, may the Lord enable all of us to experience that “a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”[19]

From the Vatican, 13 November 2017

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Patroness of Migrants
FRANCIS

[1 Luke 2:14.

[2] Angelus, 15 January 2012.

[3] JOHN XXIII, Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris, 106.

[4] Luke 14:28-30.

[5] Message for the 2000 World Day of Peace, 3..

[6] BENEDICT XVI, Message for the 2013 World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

[7] No. 25.

[8] Cf. Address to the National Directors of Pastoral Care for Migrants of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, 22 September 2017.

[9] BENEDICT XVI, Message for the 2011 World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

[10] Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 71.

[11] JOHN XXIII, Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris, 106.

[12] Message for the 2018 World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

[13] Hebrews 13:2.

[14] Psalm 146:9.

[15] Deuteronomy 10:18-19.

[16] Ephesians 2:19.

[17] “20 Pastoral Action Points” and “20 Action Points for the Global Compacts”, Migrants and Refugees Section, Rome, 2017.  See also Document UN A/72/528.

[18] Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2004,, 6.

[19] James 3:18.

Direct Source: https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/peace/documents/papa-francesco_20171113_messaggio-51giornatamondiale-pace2018.html

To be sent to proclaim God’s mercy is dangerous – Card. Barbarin

BAGAC, Bataan, January 20, 2017 – “When Jesus sends us on a mission, it would be difficult and dangerous,” warned Papal envoy Philippe Xavier Ignace Cardinal Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, France in the last day of the 4th World Apostolic Congress of Mercy held here in Las Casas de Acuzar, Bagac, Bataan.

Cardinal Barbarin underscored the necessity of the living the Divine Mercy: “The Divine Mercy is the essential nucleus of our faith; it is so important in divine work.”

“God’s mercy is reflected in mankind’s history, as God said, ‘I saw the misery of my people,’ it is impossible for him not to come to us,” explained the Cardinal.

 He explained in five points of God’s mercy:

First, God loves us with all his heart.  In the story of the prodigal son, he is like the father, looking and waiting for his son.”

Second, mercy is the world of Christ.

Third, mercy is the anger of God who is “slow to anger”.

“God becomes angry at us because we need it,” explained Cardinal Barbarin.

Fourth, God’s great love is without limits. “It is like an overflowing fountain of love flowing to the world.”

Fifth, God will remain faithful to us.

Cardinal Barbarin likened the Church to a hospital.  Like the story of the good Samaritan, we are called to take care of those who are sick, the suffering, the poor, those in despair, or those dependent on alcohol.

“The Church is the mercy of God because the mercy of God is in Jesus and we are the Body of Christ,” explained the Cardinal.

Being sent on mission, the Cardinal warned that it’s not easy.

Quoting from Matthew, “I’m sending you as lambs among wolves”, the Cardinal narrated instances whenever Christians were sent on a mission, martyrs were produced.

Nevertheless, he assures us of Jesus’ abiding presence: “I shall be with you until the end of time.” (Matt. 28, 20)

The Cardinal warned, “Jesus wants to save every human being, even those we don’t like.”

He enumerated personages in the bible whom people did not like – Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman, the Canaanite woman, and the woman caught in adultery, among others.

“In the story of the adulterous woman for instance, the Pharisees didn’t like her.  But Jesus said, ‘Those without sin cast the first sto
ne.’ When they left, Jesus turned to the woman and asked, ‘Where are your accusers?’ And the woman replied, ‘No one, Lord.’ Aside from showing mercy to the woman, Jesus was also looking for the others, but they left.  He also wanted to forgive them.  Jesus wants to forgive without limits,” explained the Cardinal.

“Today, to be merciful is to contemplate the mercy of God, to imitate Jesus because he is within us, and to keep his work in the world.  So, you need not be discouraged before this great challenge,” assured the Cardinal.  (Fr. Lito Jopson / CBCP ECSC Media)

The Church has drug rehab even before Duterte – Bishop Oliveros

MARILAO, Bulacan, January 19, 2017 –  In the Holy Eucharist celebrated on the fourth day of the Fourth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy or WACOM4, Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros in his homily said, “Even before Duterte became president, we already have a rehabilitation center for drug addicts.”

“Mercy in action” is this day's theme for the worldwide event here in the National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan, with participants estimated at 7,000.

The foreign and local delegates were exposed to fifteen charitable institutions of the Diocese of Malolos, catering to persons of all ages, from abandoned children to the elderly. These are: Galilee Home and Dumagats in Dona Remedios Trinidad; Nazareth Home for Street Children, Hospicio San Juan de Dios for Women and Bahay ni San Martin in Bustos; Bethelehem House of Bread in Batluag; Sto. Nino Bethany House Orphanage, Bahay Pangarap, Ephesus House, and Tahanan ni Mother Rita in Guiginto; Tahanang Mapagpala and Emmaus House of Apostolate in Malolos City; Lingap Bata Center and Bahay Kalinga in Sta Maria; and Hospicio San Juan de Dios for Men in Bocaue.

Galilee Home

The Diocese of Malolos founded the Galilee Home in Dona Remedios Trinidad, a drug rehabilitation center in the 80s.

Malolos Vicar General Msgr. Bartolome Santos, Jr. reported that the home is for the wayward who wish to be freed from the vice and come to God’s fold.

“We ask whether they want to change so they can stay in the home or not.  Then they start going back to the Lord.  They go to mass everyday; they exchange in sharing and productivity.  We insure that they will be able to organize their lives.”

Msgr. Bartolome explained that there are many people helping them – doctors, psychiatrists, priests and other volunteers.  “We do everything we can.  We make them feel the presence of God.”

Msgr. Sabino Vengco, who himself is the founder of Kadiwa sa Pagkapari Foundation that extends help to retired and elderly priests, said, “The value of life is the main reason why we act; not only to restore social order but to heed Christ’s command that life should flourish.”

“Our mission for the wayward is not punishment but new life.  This is the life of the gospel of Jesus.  What makes life worth living is that we take care of others.” (Fr. Lito Jopson / CBCP ECSC Media)

Witness to the poor; be a poor Church - Abp. Tirona

MARILAO, Bulacan, January 19, 2017 – Careres Archbishop Rolando Tirona dwelt on “Witnessing to the mercy of God as church of and for the poor.”

Speaking before some estimated 7,000 faithful, both coming from local and foreign delegates of the Divine Mercy devotees in the Divine Mercy Shrine in Marilao, Bulacan, Bishop Tirona explained how we can give witness as a church of the poor.

Witnessing

“Our vocation is to be witnesses of God’s mercy,” said Archbishop Tirona.

“We witness to the fidelity of God to his people. Aside from ‘mercy’, the other definition of “hesed” is enduring fidelity.”

According to the Archbishop, Jesus commissioned his disciples to be witnesses.

“Christian witnessing is not a series of sporadic actions like giving donations.  It is a way of life formed by inspiration and commitment.”

He also distinguished between being a reporter and a witness.

“A reporter is emotionally distant from an event.  The witness cannot be but in the event, caught in the event, and transformed by the event.  ”

Second, a witness is inspired by the Holy Spirit.

“Like a mystic, which is not just someone who experiences extrabodily phenomena; a witness is captured and taken hold by the Holy Spirit.”

“Witnessing is ‘now’ witnessing.  The Kingdom of God is at hand.  We are to witness the power of God.”

Another point mentioned by the Archbishop is witnessing as a community or a church action.

“Jesus gathered the disciples as a community.  He said, ‘The Spirit will come upon you and you will proclaim the Good News of salvation.’ Koinonia is Christian unity.”

Church of the poor

Bishop Tirona stressed on the meaning of the “church of the poor.”

“The Church is “Church of the poor” where the poor are welcome and not rejected; they actively participate ... the Church of the poor means the poor can contribute to the enrichment of the gospel in our lives.”

To be a Church of the poor, Archbishop Tirona suggests three things:  intimacy with Jesus, embracing his cross, sacrifice and love; the second is immersion in the life of the Church as the ‘Body of Christ’ through  sacraments, the food of Christian life;  and involvement in people’s lives especially the poor by actively engaging in corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

“Witnessing is sharing in God’s blessings even in the midst of personal suffering and pain.  Live with joy the gift of life,” concluded the Archbishop.  (FR. LITO JOPSON, CBCP ECSC MEDIA)

No limit to the Divine Mercy - Bishop Bacani

STO. TOMAS, BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES, January 18, 2017 - NOVALICHES BISHOP EMERITUS Teodoro Bacani, Jr.animated the faithful on the third day of pilgrimage of the Fourth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy held today at the St. Pius National Shrine and Parish, in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, Philippines.

Addressing a crowd of about 7,000 participants both local and foreign delegates and visiting pilgrims, the bishop’s reflections focused on remembering and celebrating God’s mercy as a forgiven and forgiving community.

Remembering

“It’s very sad when we can no longer remember ... more than half of our lives are lost.  So we celebrate anniversaries to remember.  Remember the Exodus; this day, celebrate as a memorial of a perpetual institution"

"The Eucharist, this is the new covenant in my blood; do this is memory of me,” the bishop explained.

Bishop Ted invited the faithful to deepen their knowledge of Jesus:  “Do we remember who he is?  The Scriptures, the book of God’s remembering, is the book God wants us to remember his deeds.”

Bishop Ted enunciated Jesus raising the dignity of the poor; “Zaccheus, the Samaritan woman, the thief on the cross who asked to be remembered.  Pope Francis would embrace the poorest of the poor because this man (Jesus) would not drive them away.  Jesus raised their dignity.”

Jesus also raised a community where love is the standard.

“The love shown to the needy is shown to God himself and is necessary for our salvation,” the bishop explained.

“The church is a sacrament of the intimate union of God and the unity of all mankind; the instrument of this union and the unity is God’s will for all mankind.”

“Jesus is the reign of God in person, for he did what was pleasing to the Father.  He looks for the glorification of mankind.”

“A new heaven and a new earth, wala nang basura (no more trash).  There will not be any sickness.  The last enemy is death.  We will all live and God will be all in all.”

“This is the summary of the Christ event; Christ reveals the mercy of the Father.  For Jesus is the face of the mercy of the Father.  He who sees Jesus, sees the Father.  Jesus is the human face of the Father.”

“We have come to know the same God as agape.  It is not eros, love that seeks to possess, but love given to the most unworthy; it is given to the max.  Of his fullness, we have all received grace for grace (patung-patong na biyaya).”

Celebration

Bishop Ted reminded the faithful to celebrate.  How? In songs and dances.

“We celebrate bread; celebrate by giving life to the fullest.”

“Celebrate to be reconciled to one another.  We want to celebrate the mercy of God. It is by his mercy we breathe.  Every breath is a grace; every companion is a grace.  The world we live is a grace.”

The bishop exhorted the faithful, “Even as we proclaim the mercy of God, let us be bold to uphold the rights of human beings, even the most miserable.”

“As we proclaim life, let us reject merciless ways done even to drug addicts.”

The bishop lamented the faithful’s silence on the merciless killings going on in the country.

He recalled the concern of a priest: "If they were sinners and they were killed in their sleep, they would not have time to repent.  They would be condemned, not to jail, but to eternal life.”

“If the Filipino people keep quiet as in the time of Hitler, how can this be?”

The bishop noted Divine Providence in holding of a congress on mercy in the midst of killings.

“No one is deprived of life without due process.  Every person is innocent until proven guilty.  The Lord in his mercy knocks.  He says, ‘If anyone opens to me, I will eat with him.’ Jesus is a bringer of grace.  Today, in the Philippines, we also get knocks of “tukhang” (katok at pakiusap), but the one knocking is not a bringer of grace, but of death.  What kind of police do we have who cannot even catch the killers of 4,000?"

“Jesus is merciful. He said, ‘I am meek and humble of heart.’  Let us be merciful as Jesus was merciful.”

Bishop Ted concluded with the words of Pope Francis, “There is no limit to the Divine Mercy offered to everyone.” (Fr. Lito Jopson / CBCP ECSC Media)

Be a messenger of mercy – Abp. Sinaga

Manila, PHILIPPINES, January 17, 2017 - Medan Archbishop Anicetus Bongsu Sinaga, OFMCap. urged all Catholics to be missionaries of mercy to the poor and the suffering of the world.

 He called on everyone to proclaim mercy and forgiveness, conforming hearts to Jesus’ merciful heart.

"Jesus said, 'The best of me is my mercy.  Strive to mold your heart according to my heart and that burns ardently as a victim of love,'” quoted the bishop.

He called on everyone to proclaim mercy to all humanity in word, deed, and prayer.

“Without discrimination, distinction of color, ideology, let us try to internationalize and universalize love for one another.  Let us make a word of hatred, but a word of love,” said the Archbishop.

He called for an end to oppression, terrorism committed even in the name of religion, and injustice.

“Let this be a time for new reverence for life, the quickening of the struggle for justice for the celebration for life, testified the bishop, "I am grateful to be a messenger of mercy.”  (Fr. Lito Jopson/ CBCP ECSC Media)

Divine Mercy rays affect the health - Fr. Seraphim

Manila, PHILIPPINES, January 17, 2017 - Fr. Seraphim Michalencko of the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary shared his reflections on the church as servant and witness of God’s mercy.

Speaking before a huge crowd of delegates representing some 60 countries, Fr. Seraphim reflected on the rays that emanated from Jesus’ heart that enrich the church.

According to Michalencko, the rays also affect the health of the body.

“It is an act of faith; everything that we need for our right to life, for a good death, and salvation in terms of health and well being in every aspect of life.”

“The white rays symbolize the life-giving oxygen to the body while the red one gives life to the soul,”  explained Fr. Seraphim.

"The sacraments of baptism, reconciliation and anointing of the sick are symbolized by the white rays while the Holy Eucharist is symbolized by the red rays, giving the life to the soul."

According to Fr. Seraphim, the rays represent the coming forth of mother church.  "As we venerate the image we allow the image to work in us."

Fr. Seraphoim attested that the rays affect the health of the body. "We are healing the very core of our life."

Fr. Seraphim acknowledged that the devotion to the Divine Mercy started from the grassroots and not top down.  “It is the believers that constitute the church; the ordained priesthood is a mission and service to charity to the body of Christ that is, by baptism constituted in Christ’s priesthood."

The devotion calls for the removal of sin and calling down grace.  “Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”

"We are fulfilling his will and sanctifying the whole world.  It is a universal prayer."

He also gave his insights on the final days. Quoting Jesus' revelation to St. Faustina, "You are going to prepare the world for my final coming,” he explained, "We participate in bringing that fulfillment."

"Jesus will come not to forgive sins but to fill up and take to himself those who have completely dedicated themselves to him."

He uttered his prayer according to St. John: "Father, I pray that they may all be one as I in you and you in me."  He concluded, "That is the goal of salvation, our eternal life with the Godhead."  (Fr. Lito Jopson, CBCP ECSC Media)

Quevedo: mercy is linked with communion

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 17 January 2017 - Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo stresses on communion as the deepest vocation of the Church in the second day of the Fourth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM4) held here in the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines.

In a country beset by violence and poverty, he underscored the need for communion as the abiding love of God in us.

“God abides in those who confess that Jesus abides in God with the love God has for us.  We see three persons of the Trinity, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.  We understand that God abides in us, not just the Spirit or Jesus, but the Triune God,” the Cardinal explained.

“The Triune God also dwells in us.  You are not just in the flesh; you are in the Spirit.  Christ is in you; the spirit of Jesus dwells in you; the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies.”

The Cardinal reminds the faithful that God’s Person is holy and we are the temples and that we live and be guided by the Spirit.

“Do not gratify the flesh as simply carnal desire, impurity, infidelity, the enumeration of the desires of the flesh, ideologies, dissensions and factions, conflicts, and quarrels,” clarified the Cardinal.

He explained the signs of living in the Spirit: "If you live by the Spirit, you have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control."

“Virtue stands in the middle; it is self-controlled.  On how I live by the Spirit, I have to examine myself, ‘Do I love as I should?  Do I love God above all else and love my neighbor as myself?  And who is my neighbor?  He is the one next door.  Remember the good Samaritan. He is that person who killed a member of the family; who speaks against you; one you never heard of but in need of something in the world.”

The Cardinal reminds Catholics of their role as bearers of the Good News of salvation.  “Do not go around wearing funeral faces.  Ask, ‘Am I kind and generous to the poor, needy, and marginalized?  Am I gentle and faithful?  Do I make peace with others and find out whether or not I am living by the Spirit?’  Acknowledge the Spirit working in us as St. Paul says, “as you received the Lord, live life in Jesus.”

The Church as the image of communion and mercy

Cardinal Quevedo also reminded the faithful on their role as members of the body of Christ.

“In the body of Christ, the greatest gift is love.  Because of love we build up together one body.  When one suffers, everyone suffers.  Can we be indifferent to the plight of Christians leaving homes, with churches being burnt, and those being killed around the world?” challenged the Cardinal.

Another image of communion is our unity with Jesus as described in St. John’s gospel in the 15th chapter: “I am the vine; you are branches.  Apart from me you can do nothing.”

“I give you a new commandment: love one another.  You should love one another.  By this, everyone will know you are my disciples.”

Acts 2 and 4 described the life of the early Christian communities.  “They sold their possessions and distributed according to the needs of others.  They broke bread and ate their food with generous hearts.  Day by day the Lord added to their number.  As all was held in common, there were no needy among them.”
"The Church is called on a mission: We are called to love and mercy because of our communion with Jesus flowing from his love and mercy.  We are called to demonstrate this mission in love and serve by going out to the poor.”

“We are called to build communion with one another.  We do not stop building communion with one another in the wider society; to reconcile relationships broken by crime and drugs.  How important this task is!  We have to get rid of biases,” concluded Cardinal Quevedo.  (FR. LITO JOPSON, CBCP ECSC)

CBCP endorses POC's free upper extremity prostesis for amputees

Dolan reiterates Tagle’s plea: Renew the family meal!

by Fr. Lito Jopson

CEBU – “May we remember invitation of Cardinal Tagle: to renew the family is to renew the family meal.  One way to renew Church is to restore the utter centrality of the family meal every Sunday.”

So goes New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan's reflection in his topic titled: “The Eucharist and Mary” in the seventh day of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress held in the Pavilion, Cebu City.

He also expressed his affections for the Filipinos and acknowledged their loyalty to the family and passionate Catholic faith in his Archdiocese of New as well as the United States.

“Now I see where all these virtues come from.  We experience the radiance here in Cebu.”

He described the mass as sacrifice, meal, and presence and how Mary animated these.

“The Eucharist is the renewal of the sacrifice on Calvary ... who was there with Jesus? Near the cross was his mother.”

He invited the faithful, “You want to be close to Jesus at the mass? Be close to Mary.”

Regarding the Eucharist as meal, “Mother Mary is always on the table with Jesus and us. As she gave birth to Jesus, she place him at the manger that is a feedbox.  Jesus is intended as bread.”  He then echoed Cardinal Tagle’s plea to renew the family meal.

On the Eucharist as the real presence of Jesus, the Blessed Mary played a huge role in the incarnation of her Son Jesus.

“Who provided a human nature to the Son of God” Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Mary.  In the incarnation, God asked her free consent for the incarnation to happen.”

Cardinal Dolan also acknowledged the priests’ work of converting bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.

“Priests are close to Jesus.  According to Mother Teresa, they perform the transubstantion of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus in the mass,” explained the Cardinal.

He admonished those who simply receive the body of Jesus with doubtful hearts.

“Be careful: every time people look at the host, they are tempted to snicker to believe that the bread is true body.  Let’s proclaim our Creed: I do believe,” reminded the Cardinal.

Concluding his Catechesis, he declared the Mary is part of the Eucharist.

“She carried within her the very life of the Son of God.  She has the divine in her.  We spiritually have the very life of Christs in us. He lives in us.”  (Reported by Fr. Lito Jopson, CBCP ECSC, TV Maria)